levin



N. D. LEVIN.

MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATIQN FILED NOV- 21, 1916- REN EWED FEB- 411921.

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Nb 4 IIIIIII I 1 1 i 6 7 W N WW A 4 WW APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, I916.

RENEWED F138. 4, 19 211;

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' INVE TOFB dIAL A.

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY N. D. LEVIN.

MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-21,1916. RENEWED FEB. 4. 1921.

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEFT'3.

,4 TTORNE I WITNESSES:

N. D. LEVIN.

MINING MACHINE.

APPUCATION FiLED NOV- 21,.l9l6. RENEWED FEB. 4, 1921.

1,371,314. Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES: IN V5 TO]? A TTORNE Y 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NILS D. LEVIN, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JEFFREY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

MININ G-MACHIN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

Application filed November 21, 1916, Serial No. 132,681. Renewed February 4, 1921. Serial No. 442,593.

To all whomc't may concern:

Be it known that I, NILs D. LEVIN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mining-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in mining machines and particularly to that class of mining machines which is provided with an elongated cutter arm adapted to be thrust longitudinally into the coal and to then be moved laterally across the face to under cut the coal preparatory to breaking it out of its natural bed.

The especial object of my invention is to provide, in a machine'of the class described,

improved gearing and arrangement of parts which shall combine maximum efiiciency with extreme convenience of operation.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is disclosed in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1 is a general plan view of the machine, the cover plates being removed to show the arrangement of gearing.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1. V

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section along the vertical central plane of the machine.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken along the line 4;-1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. p V

Fig. 6 is a sectionalview taken along the line 66 of 1.

Fig. 7 isa fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 77 of Fig. 1, intended to show particularly the method of holding the thrust of the master gear.

.Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the method of handling the machine about the room of the mine. I

10 is a diagrammatic view illustratin the method of making the sumping, or

entering cut.-

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view lllustratin the method of cutting across the face of the coal.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrat- 111g an alternative method of making the sumplng or entering cut.

Fig. 13 is a detail view of the mechanism for connecting the handling drum with the power elements of the machine.

Like numerals refer to similar parts in the several figures. Referring'to the drawings the numeral 1 indicates the base frame casting upon which the operative parts of the machine are supported. At eachside the base frame casting is attached, in any preferred manner, as by the machine screws 2, to the upwardly turned edges 3 of the skid pan 4:. This skid pan 4 is composed of a rolled steelplate and serves as a broad supporting base adapted toshde in any direction over the floor of the mine.

Extending longitudinally of the base frame casting 1 are two downwardly proectmg ribs 5 which are joined at intervals by the cross webs 6'to form'a rigid support for the cutting mechanism. The outer faces of the ribs 5 slidably engage the rearward part of the U shaped bar 8 which constitutes the foundation of the cutter arm 9. Secured to the U shaped bar 8 by suitable rivets are the top plates 10 and bottom plates 11, the edges of which project beyond the outer face of the bar 8 to form guide ways in which travels the cutter chain 12. The inner edges of the top plates 10 also project beyond the inner face of the bar 8 to form flanges which engage the longitudinal grooves 7 of-the ribs 5 to support the weight of the cutter arm. The chain 12 is of the usual type having renewable cutter bits 13 by which the coal is cut. Guide strips '14. are riveted along the edges of the plates 10 and 11.to engage the guide flanges of the cutter chain links to hold them in place in the guide ways. A plate 15 extends from side to side of the cutter frame below the supporting ribs 5 to maintain the proper relation between the rearward ends of the U shaped bar 8.

Provision is made for the longitudinal adjustment of the cutter frame, relative to the base frame casting 1, to regulate the tension of the cutter chain, by an adjusting screw 16 the rearward end of which abuts upon the web 17 of the main frame casting. This adjusting screw 16 is fitted with a nut 18 having a flange 19 which engages suitable notches in the plates 10 and 11 to maintain a fixed relation between the nut and the cut-- ter frame. At its forwardend the screw 16 is squared to fit a suitable wrench by which it may be rotated to move the nut 18, and with it the cutter frame, relative to the base frame casting. The web 20 of the base frame casting is pierced by a slot 21 and in this is mounted a lock member 22 having a notch. at its lower end adapted to engage a hexagonal flange 23 formed on the adjusting screw 16 to hold it against rotation. WVhen it is desired to change the adjustment of the cutter frame, the lock member 22 may be lifted and turned a quarter revolution, so that its broad head 24 may engage the edges of the slot 21 to hold it out of engagement with the flange 23. After the adjustment of the cutter arm the lock memher 22 may be again dropped into place to secure the parts against accidental disarrangement.

. themotor 25, its starting box 26 and controlling resistance 27 are inclosed in a flame proof casing to insure against the ignition of the gaseous atmosphere of a coal mine. Electric current for the actuation of the motor 25 is received through the conductor cable 28. As this motor forms no part of the present invention, it need not be further described at this time. Attached to the operating shaft of the starting box is a spur gear 33 meshing with a similar gear 34 to offset the line of the extension shaft which extends to the rear end of the ma chine and is provided with a hand wheel 36 convenient to the hand of the operator to control the operation of the motor. On the frame of the motor 25 are formed feet 3? which are secured to suitable bosses of the base frame casting 1 to. hold the motor in working relation with the operative parts of r the machine.

To the armature shaft of the motor is secured the bevel pinion 38 which engages with the master gear 39 to drive the machine. This master gear 39 is attached by suitable machine screws 40 to the upper end of the sleeve 41 which is journaled for rotation about the stationary vertical shaft 42. The lower end of the shaft 42 is screw threaded to the fiangecasting 43 riveted to the skid pan 4, and at its, upper end it is fastened in an aperture of, the yoke casting 44 by a suitable cotter 45. The yoke casting 44 is rivetedto thecover'plate 46 which is bolted to the lugs 47 formed on the motor frame, thereby affording a rigid support for the shaft and the gearing mounted thereon.

There are two brackets 48 attached to the under side of the cover plate 46, one at either side of the center line of the machine and upon these are mounted the thrust rollers 49 which engage the upper surface of the rim of the master gear to hold it in contact with the pinon 38'. Formed upon the shaft 42 near its upper end is a flange 42 between which and the boss 44 of the yoke casting '44 is positioned a ball bearing thrust coller 50 which projects laterally beyond the periphery of the flange 42 and of the boss 44. The lower surface of the projecting portion of the thrust collar 50 is en gaged by a shoulder 41 of the sleeve 41 and its upper surface is engaged by a flange 89 of the master gear 39. By this arrangement of parts the weight of the sleeve 41 and of the gear parts attached thereto is carried upon the ball bearing 50 by the flange 39" and the upward thrust of the worm 64 and the master gear 39 is resisted by the ball bearings 50 against the yoke casting 44.

Rotatably mounted upon the lower end of the sleeve 41 a sprocket wheel 52 which engages the cutter chain 12 to drive it. Upon the upper side of the sprocket wheel 52 are formed clutch teeth 53 engageable with the teeth of the clutch member 54 -splined to the sleeve 41. A circumferential groove 55 in the clutch member 54 is engaged by a supporting yoke 56 which is carried by the shifting lever 57 in a manner common to clutch shifting mechanism. This shifting lever 52 is supported on trunnions 58 in bearings of the base frame casting 1. and has an upstanding arm 59 connected through the rod 60 with the crank arm 61. The crank arm 61 is attached to a hollow shaft supported at the rear end of the machine in a manner to be later described, and provided with a hand lever 63 by which it may be rotated to rock the shifting lever 5'7 to slide the clutch 54 into or out of engagement with the sprocket wheel 52. V

Formed on the sleeve 41 is a worm 64 which meshes with the worm wheel 65 keyed to the horizontal power shaft 66. The shaft (36 is journaled in bearings 6'7 and 39 formed on the base frame casting 1. Provision is made for the lubrication of both the worm wheel and the hearing 6? by an oil receptacle 69 belted to the bearing. and provided with apertures '70 and 71 positioned so as to deliver oil at the desired points. 7 V

Mounted upon the power shaft 66' and connectible thereto by a friction clutch 72 lllll ill is a spur pinion 73 which meshes with the r spur gear 74 of the feeding mechanism gear v extension 76 of the pinion 73, which are connectible together by the friction disks 77 in the manner common to such clutches. The disks 77 are adapted to be pressed by the pressure plate 78 to produce the necessary friction between the disks to cause the member 75 to drivethe member 72. Attached to the clutch member 72 by suitable machine screws 79 is a circular cover plate 80 which entirely closes in the mechanism of the clutch. Screw threaded through the center of the plate 80 extends a pressure screw 81 the inner end of which impinges upon the pressure plate 78, and to the outer end of which is fixed a hand wheel 82 by which the screw may be rotated to vary the pressure upon the disks 77 to control the action of the clutch.

The feeding mechanism comprises a power actuated winding drum 83 adapted to-wind the feed rope 84, one end of which is fixed to a suitable anchor, to draw the machine over the floor of the mine to feed the cutter mechanism to its Work. The drum 83 is provided with flanges 85 to confine the rope as it is wound up, and one of these flanges is perforated at 86 to pass the end of the rope to be secured between the converging lugs 87 by the wedge 88. The drum 83 is journaled on the horizontally projecting stud shaft 89 fixed to the main frame cast-. ing 1. Formed on the inner surface of the drum 8 3 is an internal gear 90 which meshes with the spur pinion 91 fixed to the outer end of acounter shaft 92 journaled in cylindrical bearing 93 formed of the main frame casting 1. At the other end of this shaft 92 is fixed ahub 94; upon which the spur gear 74.- is rotatably mounted. An oil reservoir 95 formed in the frame casting supplies oil for the lubrication of the bearing 93. Formed on the hub 94 is a flange 96 having apertures 97 adapted to register with similar apertures of the web 98 of the gear 74 and adapted to receive the pins 99 of the clutch 100 to connect the gear 74 and the hub 94 together.

The clutch member 100 is rotatable upon and slidable along the outer surface of the bearing 93 and is provided with an annular groove 101 by which it is connected to the clutch shifting mechanism in the manner common to such mechanism. The lever 102 of this clutch shifting mechanism extends to a point convenient to the hand of the operator, and affords means to engage or to disengage the pins 99 withthe flange 96. By the arrangement of parts above described the friction clutch affords means to drive the feeding devices which, by the slippage of the disks, insure the machine against overloads, and the pin clutch allows the drum to be disconnected from the drivingforms the driven member of a multiple disk friction clutch, the driving member 106 of which is keyed. to the shaft 66 and is connectible with the driven member by the disks 107 in the manner common to such clutches. To the end of the extension 105 is secured by suitable machine screws 108, a circular cover plate 109 by which the clutch mechanism is completely inclosed. Upon this cover plate is formed a hub 110 having a bearing upon the shaft 66 to afford a broad support for the clutch member 105. Positioned adjacent the clutch members 105 is a disk 111 having a hub 112 journaled upon the shaft 66. Formed on the periphery of the disk 111 is a winding drum 113 upon which is wound a rope 114 the free end of which is adapted to be attached to a suitably placed anchor outside of the machine. The rope 114 serves the double purpose of handling the machine about the room to place it preparatory to cutting the coal, and to'balance the reaction of the cutting mechanism to maintain its angular relation to the coal face during the cutting operation as will be fully described hereinafter. The drum 113 and friction clutch member 105 may be connected together by a pin clutch comprising a ring 115 slidable longitudinally ofthe hub 112 and having pins 116 extending through apertures in the disk 111 to engage with registering apertures in the flange 104. This pin clutch is controllable by a shifting lever 117 adapted to be moved by the rotation of the shaft 118 journaled in suitable bearings of the machine frame andprovided with a cross bar handle 119 for its convenient manipulation.

On the outer surface of the hub 110 is formed a screw thread 120 and to this is fitted a ring 121 adapted to be moved bv its rotation relative to the hub 1.10 nearer-to or farther from the cover plate 109. Within a recess of the ring 1.21 is mounted a ball bearing 122 and upon this bearing impinges the ends of a plurality of pins 123 which extends through apertures of the cover plate 109 and engage the pressure plate 12 1 to transmit the pressure of the ring 121 to the disks 107 of the friction clutch. On the frame.

is provided with a hand wheel 129 positioned convenient to the hand of the operator to afford means to rotate the ring 121 and thereby control the drum 113. The hol- 10W shaft 62 which forms a part of shifting mechanism by which the clutch 54 is controlled, is supported upon and rotatable about this shaft- 126. Guide sheaves 130 and 131 are conveniently positioned upon the frame of the machine to lead the rope 114 to the drum 113.

Formed in the outer. flange .132 of the drum 113 are a plurality of apertures 133 adapted to engage withthe teeth of a pinion 134 mounted upon a shaft journaled in suitable bearings of the machine frame the projected end of which SQlliUfGtltO lit a convenient wrench by which the shaft may be rotated to rotate thedrum 113 to wind the rope 114.

During the adjustment of the parts preparatory to moving the machine or to cut ting the coalythe pin clutch may be moved to disconnect the drum 113 from the friction clutch member 105 to allow the free 'W1Ild up the slack rope after which the pin clutch ma-y be moved to reconnect the drum with the friction clutch. Fixed to the sleeve 41 is a bevel gear 138 which engages a bevel pinion 139 to drive the shaft 140 journaled in bearings. 141 and 142 of the machine Oil cups 143 and 144 formed on these hearings afford means for their lubrication. The shaft 140 projects beyond the side of the machine frame and has fixed to its overhanging'end a sprocket wheel 145 adapted to be connected by a suitable driving chain with the axle of the-truck upon which the machine is moved from place to 1 place, to provide power for such movement.

A description of the truck is not necessary at this time as it forms the basis of my copending application of even date.

Formed in the metal of the base frame casting 1 is an'oil receptacle 146 having an outlet 147 fitted with a plug valve to which is attached a crank arm 148 connected with a hand rod 149 extending to a point convenient for its manipulation. By means of this plug valve the flow of oil from the 130- ceptacle may be regulated. The outlet. 14'? is so positioned relatively to the cutter chain 12 that oil flowing. thereonv will lubricate its 1 articulation, and be carried into the guide Ways of the cutter arm. In the. limited space in which such machines must operate in thin veins of coal it is often impossible for the operator to reach across the machine from one side to another and the adjustment of parts on the opposite side of the machine compels him tocrawl on hand and 84, the hand wheel 129 controlling the winding and unwinding of the rope 114, the hand wheel 36 of the motor starting box 26 and the clutch lever of the cutter chain sprocket clutch 54 are grouped at the left hand outer corner of the machine thus placing all of the devices subject to manipulation during the cutting operation at the point most convenient to the operator while observing the action of the cutting mechamsm.

The. operation of the machine is as follows: T he machine having arrived at the room which is to be cut, and the truck 153 advanced to the desired position for unloading, a jack 154 is placed as in Fig. 9, the handling rope 114 is drawn out from the drum 113 passed around the sheave 13? fixed at the corner of the machine frame, the snatch block 155 is attached to the forward. part of the cutter frame and the rope passed around the sheave 156 and attached to the jack. The motor is then started'and the hand wheel 129 manipulated to cause the rotation of the drum 113 to wind the rope 114, thereby pulling the machine off the truck and dragging it across the room in the direction of the jack. The machine can thus be placed in any desired position. After the completion of the cut the machine may be drawn to the truck and re-loaded thereon by connecting the handling rope to suitable points of attachment on the truck and the clutch manipulated to wind the rope.

When the machine is to be sumped at the right side of the room preparatory to cutting the coal from right to left, it will be placed as shown in Fig. 10. The jacks 157 and 158 will. be set adjacent the coal face,- one at either side of the machine. The pin clutch 100 will be disengaged to allow the drum 83 to freely revolve and the rope 84 drawn out and attached to the jack 157. The pin clutch 100 will then be reengaged to connect the drum 83 with the power elements of the machine. The rope 114 will then be drawn out from the drum 113 and at tached to the jack 158. The motor will then be started and the clutches manipulated to wind both ropes'to draw the machine longitudinally to force the cutter arm 9into the coal. Owing tothe gear arrangements the speed of winding the handling rope 114 is about eight times as fast as that of the feed rope 84, but by proper manipulation of the allowed in the disks of the clutch 105 to malntain a uniform rate of winding of the two ropes and pull the machine straight into the coal. By this arrangement the direction of cutting may be accurately controlled the clutch 105 being tightened or loosened as necessity may direct.

hen the machine is fully 'sumped the jacks and 158 will be removed. a jack 1'59 placed at the left hand side of the room adjacent the coal face, as shown in Fig. 11, and the feed rope 84 passed around the sheave 84 and attached to the jack. A second jack 160 will be set at the right hand side in alinement with the rear end of the machine and the handling rope drawn out from the drum 113 and attached to the jack. When now the motor is started, the hand wheel 82 will be set up to wind the feed rope and the hand wheel 129 manipulated to cause the friction clutch to exert a winding torque on the drum 113. thus immedi ately taking up all the slack in the rope 114 and tending to swing the outer end of the machine toward the right. The adjustment of the friction clutch in the drum 113 will be such that the resistance to the advance of the outer part of the machine will balance the resistance of the coal to the progress of the cutting mechanism and thus counteract the tendency of the feed rope to swing the machine to the left. The machine will thus be fed across the room from right to left as shown in Fig. 11.

Should the floor of the mine room slope away from the face, the jack 160 will be placed close to the face to produce a forward strain on the rope 114 to counteract the tendency of the machine to slip away from the face. It is often the case, that, even when the floor of the room is perfectly level, there will be a tendency for the machine to work out of the coal. This tendency may be overcome by placing the jack 160 more or less near to the face to'produce the desired balancing eflect.

While undercutting along the face of the coal it becomes desirable at times to positively swing the outer end of the machine rearward so as to quickly change the angle of the machine to the coal face. Thus in case a hard deposit of coal is encountered. it may be desirable to swing the machine so that'the cutter may engage the coal, or obstruction, along more advantageous lines of attack to effect the cutting through or dislodgment of the obstruction. In any such case, the rearward swinging of the outer end of the machine can readily be effected by first rotating the hand wheel 82 in the direction to loosen the clutch and relieve the strain on the rope 84 and allow it to be drawn out from the drum 83, and then turning the hand wheel 126 to cause the drum 113 to wind the rope 114. When the desired angle has been attained the hand wheels 82 and 129 will be manipulated to restore the former conditions of winding and the machine will be advanced in the new angular relation to the face of the coal. After the obstacle has been cut through or torn out the hand wheel 129 may be manipulated to release the rope 114 and allow the rear end of the machine to swing to the left to restore the proper angle.

In Fig. 12 I have shown an alternative method of making the sumping cut wherein the machine is placed adjacent to and parallel with the face of the coal. the forward end of the cutter arm close to the right hand rib. The jacks are set and the ropes connected precisely as in Fig. 11. When now the machine is started the clutches are manipulated to cause the rope 114 to draw the machine forward and the rope 84 to retard such movement, the result being that the machine will be rotated about the sheave 84 to make the sumping cut as shown by the dotted lines of Fig. 12.

Furthermore when it is considered that the two clutch hand wheels 82 and 129 can be set in an indefinite number of positions, ranging from that at which the clutch disks move freely in relation to each other to that in which the friction between the disks is increased until the disks seize and stop relative movement, it will be understood that by suitable manipulation of the two hand wheels the tension on the feed rope 84 can be varied as desired to control the rate of feed, and at the same time the tension in the tail rope 114 can be varied as desired to maintain the machine at any desirable angle to the face of the coal.

The above described method of operation is thought to be necessary to a complete understanding of the invention they beingdependent upon the particular arrangement of parts and therefore peculiar to this machine. It is obvious, however, that there are many methods of operation and handling, which are common to machines of this class, and applicable to this machine, but a description of them is not thought to be necessary at this time.

What I claim is 1. In a mining machine, the combination with a main frame adapted to rest upon and slide over the floor of the mine, a motor carried by the main frame, a motor controller positioned to be operable from the operating side of the machine, cutting mechanism carried by the main frame, feeding devices including a winding drum and a rope windable thereon, guiding devices including a second winding drum and a second rope windable thereon, power transmitting devices including clutch mechanism operable from the operating side of the machine connecting the cutting mechanism with the motor, power transmitting devices including a friction clutch operable from the operating side of the machine connectlng the first mentioned drum with the motor, power 2. In a mining machine, the combination of a main frame adapted to rest upon and slide over the floor of the mine, a motor carried by the main frame, an endless chain cutting mechanism projecting horizontally from the main frame, two winding drums mounted upon the main frame, ropes windable thereon, trains of gearing each including a. friction clutch to connect each drum with the motor to wind its rope, and positively acting clutch mechanism interposed between each winding drum and its gear train to permit the release of said drums from said gear trains adapted to disconnect each drum from its gear train to allow the free unwinding of its rope.

In a mining machine, the combination of a main frame adapted to rest upon and slide over the floor of the mine, a motor carried byv the main frame, an endless chain cutting mechanism projecting horizontally from the main frame, a winding drum mounted upon the main frame, a rope windable thereon, a train of gearing including a friction. clutch to connect the drum with the motor to wind the rope at a relatively low speed, clutch mechanism independent of said friction clutch adapted to disconnect the drum from the said gear train to allow the free unwinding of the rope, a second winding drum mounted upon the main frame, a rope windable thereon, a gear train includin a friction clutch adapted to connect the second mentioned drum with the motor to wind the second mentioned rope at a relatively high speed or to resist the unwinding thereof, and positively acting clutch mechanism interposed between said drum and said gear train.

4:. In a mining machine, the combination with a main frame, cutting, feeding and guiding devices carried by the main frame, a motor mounted on the main frame, a shaft rigidly supported by the main f ame, a sleeve rotatable upon the shaft, gearing connecting the motor with the cutting, feeding and guiding devices having elements attached to the sleeve which tend to move said sleeve longitudinally of said shaft. and an antifriction thrust collar attached to the stationary shaft and engaging the sleeve to hold it against longitudinal movement in either direction.

5. In a mining machine, the combination with a main frame, a vertical shaft rigidly supported in the main frame, a sleeve rotatable upon said vertical shaft, upwardly thrusting gearing attached to said sleeve, and an antifriction thrust collar attachec to said vertical shaft and engaging said sleeve to both support the weight of the sleeve and to resist the upward thrust of the gearing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

NILS D. LEVIN.

Witnesses:

DUDLEY T. FIsHnn, I'IABRY C. DEAN. 

